Celebrating life at Barchester

Following requests from residents, we are delighted to announce the launch of two new clubs this February: a weekly Scrabble Club and a fortnightly Book Club. Both initiatives have already proved to be a tremendous success.

The Scrabble Club meets every Tuesday afternoon, providing residents with an enjoyable opportunity to engage in friendly competition while keeping their minds active. The atmosphere has been lively and welcoming, with participants embracing both the social and cognitive benefits of the game.

The new Book Club, held every fortnight, offers residents the chance to explore a variety of titles and share their thoughts in an inclusive and engaging setting. Early sessions have sparked thoughtful discussion and encouraged new connections among participants.

These additions reflect our ongoing commitment to listening to resident feedback and providing meaningful, enriching activities that promote wellbeing and community spirit.

At Marriott House and Lodge, providing truly person-centred care means understanding what matters most to the people who live with us. We take time to learn about each resident’s background, culture, preferences and daily routines so we can support them in ways that feel familiar, comforting and meaningful.

For one of our residents, Frank, who is originally from China, familiar food plays an important role in maintaining that connection to home. To support this, our team arranged a takeaway from China Royale Chinese, ensuring Frank could enjoy the authentic flavours and dishes he knows and loves.

For many residents, food is far more than just a meal. It can represent memories, culture, and a sense of identity. By making sure Frank could enjoy cuisine that reflects his heritage, we were able to provide comfort, spark conversation and create a moment that felt both familiar and reassuring.

Moments like this are part of our everyday approach to care. We are committed to recognising and celebrating the diverse cultures of our residents, while always respecting their personal wishes and choices.

By going the extra mile to support individual preferences and cultural connections, we help ensure every resident feels understood, respected and truly at home.

We proudly celebrated Chinese New Year with a vibrant and memorable event that brought together residents, relatives and friends.

The celebration was marked by an impressive spread of authentic and delicious Chinese dishes, symbolising prosperity, happiness, and good fortune for the year ahead. Residents and staff enjoyed a variety of traditional favorites, each carefully prepared to honor the rich culinary heritage associated with the Lunar New Year.

Beyond the feast, attendees had the opportunity to explore the fascinating history and cultural significance behind Chinese New Year. Through engaging discussions and shared stories, we learned about longstanding customs such as the reunion dinner, the symbolism of the zodiac animals, the meaning behind red decorations, and the importance of family during this special time of year.

The event was not only a celebration of the new year but also a meaningful opportunity to deepen cultural understanding and appreciation. By combining food, history, and shared experiences, the occasion highlighted the values of unity, respect, and community that are central to the spirit of Chinese New Year.

To celebrate Pancake Day, bringing everyone together for an afternoon filled with fun, laughter, and of course – plenty of pancakes!

The celebrations began with a series of lively games and friendly competitions, including pancake flipping challenges that had everyone cheering each other on. The room was filled with excitement as participants tested their skills, showing impressive flips (and a few amusing near-misses!) along the way.

Following the games, everyone had the chance to get creative by adding their own favourite toppings. From classic lemon and sugar to chocolate spread, fresh fruit, syrup, and sprinkles, there was something to suit every taste. The highlight of the event was tasting our delicious creations and sharing our favourites with friends.

Pancake Day provided a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together, enjoy some light-hearted fun, and celebrate a much-loved tradition. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces and such enthusiastic participation.

We would like to thank everyone who helped organise the event and all those who took part in making it such a memorable occasion.

Burwood Grange celebrated Valentine’s Day with laughter, friendship, and plenty of happy moments shared together. A lovely reminder that it’s the little moments of joy and togetherness that make our home so special.

Residents at Burwood Grange had an amazing time with great music & dancing with Mother and Son duo Lesley & Charlie (Decades: 20’s-60’s).

Hampton Grove marked International Women's Day with a heart-warming celebration, honouring the incredible women, who are residents in the home and who make the homes communities shine. The event also celebrated the dedication, kindness, and strength of the care home's female staff, who were presented with flowers as a token of appreciation.

The "Ladies that Latte" group kicked off the festivities with a lovely cuppa and chat, reflecting on the journey to International Women's Day and celebrating women's achievements. Residents joined in, crafting and toasting with "Pink Empowerment Punch" and indulging in delicious cake.

Live entertainment was organised by the home, with vocalist, Nicky, who added to the joy, with everyone singing along and smiling. The afternoon was a resounding success, celebrating empowerment, friendship, and the inspiring women at the care home.

General Manager Stephan Lupu stated “Our Activities Team is dedicated to ensuring that we organise events that encourage our residents to host their families and friends at Hampton Grove Care home. Our home is always to open to loved ones and the local community who wish to take part in our life enrichment program”. 
 

Staff and residents had a fantastic time celebrating British Pie Week, a brilliant excuse to sample lots of delicious fare.

Over the course of the week, overseen by head chef Michelle, staff and residents experimented with many different types of pie fillings and flavour combinations, from more traditional meat and vegetable fillings, to vegetarian and vegan offerings, hot and spicy fillings, and sweet pies and pastries - this week has certainly been a veritable pie-filled feast!

General Manager, Ben said: “It wasn’t just the residents that were excited when we found out there was a British Pie Week, the eyes of the staff lit up too!  Everyone loves pie and our Resident Ambassador was ecstatic when she found out, she went around the home asking others what there favourite pie was.

On Saturday 28th February staff and residents dusted off their dancing shoes for the launch of our new Dementia Disco initiative.  

Knowing how much our residents love to dance, the team came up with the genius idea of a dementia-friendly disco.  They invited along members of the local community and friends of the home to the first official dementia-friendly disco which went down an absolute storm.

Building on the success, we've decided to make it a regular thing and will now be hosting monthly Dementia Discos throughout the coming year. If you and your loved ones or community group would like to attend, please contact the home to book a place, call 01323 921550 or email hazellodge@barchester.com.  The next Dementia Disco will take place on the last Saturday in March.

General Manager, Rikki-Gene Bury, commented: “The Dementia Disco is a fantastic way to connect with others in a relaxed and supportive environment.  It’s wonderful to see the power of music bring joy and reminiscence for those living with dementia, their families and caregivers.  Everyone is welcome - we’re really looking forward to making more friends in our local community. If anyone is unable to make it on the day but would like to pop in for a chat and a cup of tea, our doors are always open.”

A family member added: “We enjoyed the Dementia Disco so much and we are really looking forward to the next one!  Everyone had an amazing time and it was a wonderful and rare opportunity to turn back the clock and have some fun with our loved ones!”